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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A cause, something to be passionate about, stirs us to action. An aspect of life that is vitally important whether it is a person, family, a child, a place, or an issue, it provides that energy, motivation, and passion to get up every morning and act. There is a saying, If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Think about that for a moment.

What do you stand for?

If there is something in your world that needs protecting or a spokesperson, be that person. If there is a cause or an individual that is important to you, be important to them or it. By the grace of God, be passionate! Caring about something besides ourselves is virtuous, charitable, and right. Christ put himself up on the cross for others, totally putting his own concerns to death as He was concerned for us only. Caring is what fuels sharing ourselves, separating self from others.

In Matthew 7:13-14, the narrow path, as opposed to the wide path which is so easy to follow, though difficult and lonely at times is the path to freedom, charity, compassion, and God.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

Thomas Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ, is an amazing instruction manual on life. How many times have we thought, nobody comes with an instruction manual until now. Kempis is blunt, to the point, and adament about being like Christ in the world. There are 4 books in one and it seems like I have had this book for nearly 2 years, but I am still in book one. In chapter 19 of book 1, "On the exercises of a good religious" He talks about preparing oneself for the day.

"Every day renew your dedication to God, arousing fervent devotion in your heart as if it were the first day of your turning back to God. Pray to Him, saying: "Help me, Lord Jesus, to persevere in my good resolutios and in Your holy service till death. Help me to begin this day well, for up to now I have done nothing."

As our intention is, so will our progress be, and we have need of great diligence if we want to advance. For if those whose purpose is to do good often fall short of it, what shall the person do who seldom, if ever, makes such a resolution?"

Let us then make up our minds to do the best we can;........

The resolution of devout persons depends more on the grace of God than on their own wisdom. For human beings propose, but God disposes, nor is the course of their life as they would have it (Jer 10:23)"

Have a cause, be passionate about something, think outside the box and your security zone, care about something. Above all, don't forget to lean on God without whom we can do nothing.

I actually wanted to thank you for the beautiful comment on my post for Catholic Carnival. We never know how something we write or say will touch someone.I enjoyed this post of yours- I have afriend who has a saying when it comes to thinking and doing outside yourself- "Get your head out of your bellybutton." I have to remind myself of that often.I refer to "Imitation..." often.Thanks again for the kind words.

Patron Saint for The Pillars

St. John the Baptist

The Value of Womanhood

"To a great extent the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women."~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen